Applications are now being accepted for the 2023 Pierre Elliot Trudeau Foundation Doctoral Scholarships competition.

Student Deadline to Foundation:  December 2, 2022 5:00pm EST
Value/Duration: Up to $40,000 (+ up to $20,000 allowance) per year for three years
Level of Study: Doctoral
Required Legal Status: Domestic / International
Results: Directly from Foundation

Purpose

This three-year leadership program is designed to train Engaged Leaders, equipping outstanding doctoral candidates with the skills to translate their ideas into action, for the betterment of their communities, Canada, and the world. Scholars are selected each year and receive leadership training, academic resources, and mentorship opportunities, all in the context of Brave Spaces, in addition to generous funding for their studies.

Value & Duration

Scholars will receive:

  • Up to $40,000 per year for three years to cover tuition and reasonable living expenses;
  • Leadership training from Mentors and Fellows, including unique experiential learning opportunities that enrich and complement their academic experience;
  • Opportunities to acquire greater proficiency in Canada’s official languages (French and English) as well as Indigenous languages;
  • Up to $20,000 per year for three years, for the learning of languages, for travel and accommodations for the Foundation’s leadership program and for research, networking, and travel related to their doctoral research; and
  • Membership in a vibrant community of Scholars, Mentors, and Fellows, all of whom are leaders in their respective disciplines and sectors, and lifelong membership in the Foundation’s alumni network.

Eligibility to Apply

Please review the complete details on eligibility and selection criteria on the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s Become a Scholar and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.

At the time of application:

  1. Applicants must have been accepted into or be currently registered in the 1st or 2nd year of a full-time doctoral program and expected to complete their doctoral studies in 2026 or later;
  2. Applicants’ field of study must be broadly related to the humanities or human sciences of direct relevance to the future of Canada*;
  3. Applicants’ doctoral work must relate to at least one of the Foundation’s four themes; and
  4. Applicants must be: a) Canadian citizens who are studying at a Canadian or foreign institution, or b) permanent residents of Canada or foreign nationals who are enrolled in a doctoral program at a Canadian institution.

* The Foundation recognizes that many doctoral students are working on research projects that are interdisciplinary and qualify as advanced research in the social sciences and humanities, regardless of their faculty or department affiliation. The Foundation will not assess the eligibility of individuals’ research topics by email or over the phone.

Application & Nomination Process

Please review the complete details on the application process on the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s Become a Scholar and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.

The 2023 competition opened on September 28, 2022 at 9:00am.

In order to apply, applicants must complete the following:

  1. Register for an account on the Foundation’s application portal;
  2. Once registration is complete, create an application for the 2023 Scholarship Competition;
  3. Submit referees’ contact information*;
  4. Upload transcripts; and
  5. Complete and submit the application before the deadline.

* The Foundation strongly advises applicants to follow up with their referees to ensure they submit the completed form by December 2, 2022, 5:00pm EST. Applicants will receive notifications after their referees have submitted their referral forms.

Results

The Foundation will directly invite semi-finalists to participate in group interviews in February 2023. Outstanding semi-finalists will be invited to national interviews which will be held in March 2023 with members of the Application and Nomination Review Committee (ANRC).

The Foundation will officially announce the 2023 Scholars in late May 2023.

Safety Abroad Requirements for Travelling Scholars:

Please follow the instructions and steps as indicated on the U of T Safety Abroad Student’s page and review the COVID-19 Planning page well in advance of your travel. For additional updates from the university related to COVID-19, please visit  the VP Students COVID-19 FAQ page.

Important: Safety Abroad procedures are mandatory for all U of T students travelling outside of Canada, including to the U.S.A., and must be completed before the travel occurs (regardless of any financial support received). The following steps must be completed prior to departure for international travel and to remain eligible for university-funded travel support:

  1. Review the Safety Abroad website for University pre-travel requirements
  2. Review your destination’s Global Affairs Canada Travel Advisory
  3. Complete a Safety Abroad pre-departure workshop
  4. Secure appropriate and sufficient travel health insurance
  5. Add your trip to the Safety Abroad Registry

Contacts & Resources

Further details on program information, application requirements and access to the online application portal can be found on the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation’s Become a Scholar and Frequently Asked Questions webpages.

Technical issues with registration, the online application or the predetermined referral forms must be directed to leadership@trudeaufoundation.ca.